Chapter 12: Nightfall at InfernoOaisis

After ensuring the boys returned to their dorms without further confrontations between them, Aisha retraced her steps back to the headmaster’s office, which was situated close to the centremost point of the school. She tapped her watch against the door handle, and heard the tell-tale click of the lock disengaging, before turning the knob and entering the room. After ensuring that no footsteps could be heard approaching the office from either direction, she tiptoed across to the desk, slid back the chair, and lifted a hatch beneath it, revealing a staircase which led deep underground to the place she called home.

At the bottom of the stairs, was a heavy door, which this time required a metal key, which Aisha kept safe in a hidden inner pocket of her t-shirt. This door, much like the one Aisha’s brother and Hudhayfah had entered through 13 years ago, opened into a large hallway, lined with many doors. Aisha slipped off her shoes, and crossed the hall to a door labelled kitchen, but just as she was about to push the door open and enter, she felt a movement behind her and turned, bringing herself face-to-face with Zaki. He took a few steps back and chuckled, “wow you must be really distracted, that’s the closest I’ve made it to you without you noticing my presence!”. Aisha grit her teeth and glared, before turning back round and entering the kitchen. Asma, who was already in the kitchen, didn’t have to turn around to know exactly who had entered, as Zaki’s muffled laughter indicated not only that he was here, but also that Aisha had returned below ground. Knowing that Aisha was about 9 seconds away from throwing a chair at Zaki, Asma quickly dished some of the mashed potato she had just finished making onto a plate and handed it to Aisha, whilst leading her to the dining table.

Aisha seasoned her plateful with a tasteful amount of salt, and a light sprinkling of pepper, before picking up her spoon and digging in. She bit into the mouthful to hide her smirk as Asma scolded Zaki into leaving the kitchen. Such a dependable meal was just what she needed after a long day monitoring students on their first day back, especially after Zaki’s indirect reminders of her increased workload after he won a bet with her, with the entirety of their September duties on the line. In hindsight, he had probably practised the entire course across which they raced, before challenging her to the bet. 5 minutes later, Aisha’s plate was empty, and she stood to get another. Just as she lifted the lid of the pot, Asma intercepted her, and placed it back down again. “There’s not enough for everyone if you have another plateful”. Aisha frowned, and began washing her plate. The heat from the water reminded her about the fight earlier, and that she’d forgotten to tell Hudhayfah about the 11mb boy’s insult. Oh well, she had other things which needed doing, so after placing the dish on the drying rack and informing Asma to let her brother know of the remark which had been thrown by the year 11 boy in the fight, she made a quick dash out the kitchen, and down a few corridors to her bedroom. She quickly changed clothes into something more suitable for climbing, and then left in search of Zaki. She had to find a way to get him to take over his own duties, else she would definitely suffocate from the overwhelming number of tasks she had to finish by the end of the month.

~

Lucy on the other hand, was glad to find that her dormitory was not just a large bedroom on a corridor of similar rooms as she’d been expecting, but rather, she and about 14 other girls, had their own little house, with 5 bedrooms, a living room, a study room, 3 bathrooms, and even a kitchen! (Although, as one of the older girls informed her, snacks and ingredients could only be bought on the weekends, when the school hosted a mini market in the central courtyard). Lucy was led to the third floor, to one of the smaller bedrooms of the house, where she was to share a bedroom with a year 11 girl named Natalya. Natalya gave her a brief rundown of the household’s rules, then set her alarm for 6am the next morning, switched off the light and went to sleep.

Lucy found herself staring up at the ceiling and reflecting upon the day. After a few minutes of doing so, she got bored and decided to explore the house a little further. Lucy snuck out the room, and began tiptoeing around. 3 laps around the house later, Lucy felt she’d seen all the important things and headed over to the door with hopes of expanding her search to a wider breadth than just the place she was expected to be.